Improvement in saddles



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BARAK T. NICHOLS, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT :N sADDLEs.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 42.015, dated March 22, 1861.

To @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, BARAK T. NicHoLs, of the city of Newark, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stirrups, Leg-Fenders, and y Girts, for Military and other Saddles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure lis a perspective view of my said invention. Fig. 2 shows a portion of the improvements in the stirrups, and Fig. 3 shows the leather covering, hood, and strap of the stirrup, separate and apart from the. bent wood; and Fig. 4 is the bent wood of the stirrup.

The nature of my invention consists- First, in dispensing entirely with the laps of the saddle and also of the stirrup-s'trap, as ordinarily used, and substituting in the place thereof a fender or swinging ap, to the bottom of which I attach the stirrup by means of a short strap or otherwise, thereby considerably reducing the weight and cost of the saddle, and adding greatly to its strength, durability, utility, and convenience.

Second. The nature of my invention i'urther consists in forming the girt of the saddle ot' a combination of leather and felt or cloth, or other equivalent material, the felt or softer material to go next to the horse, and so to prevent cutting or chang the horse, and at the same time producing a lighter, stronger, and every way more serviceable girt.

Third. The nature ot' my invention further consists in so attaching the fenderto the saddle, in combination with the girt, as to enable the rider, by simply pressing upon the stirrups or rising in his saddle, by the weight of his body to tighten the girt, thus obviating the necessity, when about to charge upon the enemy, of a dismount by the soldier to re-v girt his horse.

Fourth. The nature of my said invention further consists in producing a stirrup, so combined of wood Vand leather or other equivalent material as to do away with any rivets, lighter, stronger, and better than the ordinary stirrup, and of less cost as to materials. ,To this improvement I also add a strip or pie'ce of rubber or other elastic material, tted into the bottom of the stirrup, in order to give elasticity to the seat and bearing of the rider.

In the drawings, A is the saddle.

B is the fender or swinging iiap, which, taking the place of the stirrup-strap, is passed through the stirrup-bar of the saddle,and the straps thereof returned through the slots pp p in the fender, in order to receive the girt, as represented at K K, Fig. l.

D is the girt, made of leather and felt, as represented in Fig. l, well stitched together, the felt being wider than the leather, in order that the leather may not cut the horse. The girt is further adapted to connect with the straps of the fender, as represented in Fig. 1.

It will be perceived that the straps of the fender are free to play through the slots p p p in B, and that the fender B is freeto move over the stirrup-bar ot' the saddle in such a manner that any downward pressure upon the fender will react upon the girth connected therewith and havethe eect to tighten or contract the same, thus to a limited extent but in a decided manner aii'ording control to the rider over the girt at any moment.

C, Fig. 3, is the external covering of the stirrup, to which is attached the hood H. This covering is formed ot leather or other equivalent material, and is well stitched or riveted together, of one or more pieces, as may be desired.

The apertures O O, Fig. 3, are to receive the wood W, Fig. 2, and the short strap S passes underneath the wood W, as shown in Fig. 2, and through the cover C, as shown in Fig. 3.

The buckle of the strap S is at the bottom ofthe stirrup, out of the way of the leg ofthe rider, and serves to take up or letdown the stirrup, which may be further taken up or let down by means of the slots m m m in the fend- The whole stirrup and strap.

er B, Fig. l. are attached to the fender, as at C, Fig. 1

In Fig. 2, W is the Wood of the stirrup, and S is the strap. B is a piece of rubber, attached in any suitable way to W, and answering the double purpose of a rest for the foot and elasticity to the seat or bearing of the rider. Thick felting or any equivalent elastic material may be substituted for the rubber R.

The adjustment or tightening of the girt over the stirrup-bar may be had by the use only of an ordinary stirrup and strap, dispensmodified, and Welts of leather and metal binding or rims introduced thereon to stiften' and ornament the same.

ln-Fig. 4 is shown a perspective View of the lbent Wood or other material ot' the stirrup.

It will be perceived that it is not riveted or connected in any way at the top and that it is peculiar in shape-viz., straight or perpendicular on one side and angular on the other. The advantages of this peculiar shape Will be seen in Fig. 3, permitting the open or rear i part of the stirrup to drop in a perpendicular line from the stirrupbar (see Fig. l) and the rest or bearing-of the foot in the stirru p being also in line underneath or perpendicular to the bar, and the hood or covering of the stirrup being all forward of said perpendicular line. The stirrup being also shaped open and disconnected at the top permits it to be easily inserted Within the cover, Fig. 3, and also by letting out the strap S the Wood W may be brought down partiallyv out ot' the. cover C, and so the stirrup may be lengthened or increased in size.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, 1s t l. The fender or swinging flap B, when the stirrup is pendent to the bottom thereof, substantiall y as described, and thereby dispensing with the long stirrup-strap.

2. The combination ot' the said fender B with the girt Din such a manner as that, when a downward pressure is applied to the fender, vit will have the effect to tighten on the girt, substantially as described.

BARAK T. NICHOLS.

Witnesses DANiEL F. ToMPKrNs, ELIAS TAYLOR. 

